Every day at Edzell, children have the opportunity to pursue a variety of fun and engaging activities that help them to learn through play. We follow a general timetable each day to provide some structured play to the children's time at nursery, but we also allow for a good deal of unstructured time for exploration and creativity.
Our staff are active participants in the daily activities of the children. We guide them through certain activities, such as art, music, storytelling, and gardening. We also spend time reading and singing with the children, and we encourage them to explore their own ideas and creativity and make use of the facilities indoors and outdoors.
We believe that a happy balance is found between structured and unstructured, indoor and outdoor play and learning during the day. This allows children to develop their independence and self-confidence, while also learning important academic and social skills.
We are excited to see what the future holds for Edzell as we transition to Montessori pedagogy.
A typical day
A typical day at our nursery starts at 8:30am by welcoming the children at the entrance. We understand that some children may need extra time to feel comfortable, so parents are always welcome to accompany their children into the hallway.
If you arrive after 9.00am, simply ring the doorbell and one of our staff members will come and let your child in.
In the morning session, children have the freedom to explore and play in our two nursery rooms They can move freely between the two rooms and and also move easily from the indoors to the outdoors. We provide a variety of activities and resources for children to explore. These activities include arts and crafts, music and movement, story time, and free play. We also have a large garden area with a variety of play equipment.
We offer a flexible snack time for the children, and during that time, children can enjoy a healthy snack whenever they are ready.
We want children to be respectful of their surroundings and keep them clean both indoors and outdoors throughout the day. But we also have a time set aside for everyone to tidy up together and gather in a circle. This is a special moment when we all come together to talk about our adventures, celebrate birthdays, or simply share whatever the children want to talk about. Sometimes, we even have a show and tell session where children can show off their favourite toys, books, or belongings. Birthdays are always a big deal, and we celebrate them the Montessori way.
The children have their packed lunch before getting ready for our outdoor adventures in the afternoon. If the weather is not great the nursery activities may carry on into the afternoon session or we may brave the weather and head out. We discuss it with the children and decide but we try as much as possible to head out and experience the many outdoor spaces we are fortunate to have access to.
At 3:00 pm, It is time for you to come and collect the little humans after a fantastic day of learning and fun at the nursery.
We encourage children to learn about making positive food choices and even get involved in preparing our delicious and healthy daily snacks. Fridays are especially exciting because we have a dedicated kitchen where we prepare our famous porridge and other treats.
Every Tuesday, we have a music specialist who visits the nursery to play the piano and lead the kids in singing songs. This includes getting ready for our annual Christmas Nativity Play and other concerts throughout the year.
We also have weekly activities focused on gardening and exploring nature, where the children get to learn all about the outdoors. They also love going on regular outings to cool places around Edinburgh like Starbank Park, the Botanics, Inverleith Park and Wardie Bay amongst others.
In addition, we offer our "Edzell Explorers" programme, where we head over to our special spot at Eagle Lodge It is an adventure-filled experience where we build awesome dens, learn how to make fires safely, climb trees like little monkeys, and even create art in the midst of nature's beauty. The goal is to unleash our inner explorers and learn about the importance of conservation and environmental protection while developing a lifelong love of nature and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
And let's not forget about our fantastic annual Sports Day, which wraps up our Summer Term with a bang! It is a wonderfully fun event where the children, their families, and our staff all participate and have a blast.
The Nursery Facilities
Edzell Nursery is located in a large, open-plan church hall that has both indoor and outdoor play areas. We believe this provides the best environment for children to be able to move freely and enjoy all the facilities we offer. Staff can see all that is happening at any given time, and children always feel connected to each other.
Inside the hall, there are various play and learning areas set up by staff. Children can move between these areas either with the guidance of staff or of their own choice. We have a dedicated art area, known as the "messy room," that is very popular with the children.
The hall opens out onto a large, sunny garden. It is a vast and inviting space where children can freely explore and play. There are climbing frames, outdoor equipment, a mud kitchen, a music and water wall, a willow tunnel, and a gardening area.
Children can run around and explore as they let their imaginations soar, They can invent their own games with the abundant collection of outdoor resources.
We’d love to hear from you
edzellnursery@gmail.com
07909 672377